Pancetta And Asparagus Pasta Food

TAGLIATELLE WITH ASPARAGUS, CRISPY PANCETTA AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Snap the woody bottoms off the asparagus stalks and throw them away.
• Cut off the top 4cm of each stalk, put to one side and finely chop the remaining stalks. Heat a wide frying pan and gently fry the chopped asparagus stalks in a little olive oil with the pancetta. When the asparagus softens slightly turn the heat off and mash them roughly with the back of a fork.
• Cook the tagliatelle in plenty of boiling salted water, according to pack instructions. Add the asparagus tips for the last 2 minutes of cooking time.
• Drain the pasta, reserving a cup of the cooking water, and toss with the mashed asparagus and pancetta.
• Stir in most of the Parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper. If needed loosen the pasta with a little of the cooking water. Serve with the last of the Parmesan sprinkled on top.
• Tip: Cooking your asparagus with the pasta is a clever way to save on time and washing up.

GNOCCHI WITH ASPARAGUS AND PANCETTA

Steps:

• Cook gnocchi according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain in a colander over a bowl, reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid. Keep warm.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pancetta; sauté 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
• Add shallots and asparagus to pan; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in garlic; sauté 1 minute.
• Add gnocchi, pancetta, reserved cooking liquid, juice, salt, and pepper to pan; cook 1 minute. Serve with cheese.

FETTUCCINE WITH PEAS, ASPARAGUS AND PANCETTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to the bite. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid. Return pasta to pot.
• Meanwhile, cook pancetta in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, transfer pancetta to paper towels to drain. Pour off all but 1 teaspoon drippings from skillet. Add asparagus to drippings in skillet; saute' 3 minutes. Add peas, white and pale green parts of green onions, and garlic; saute' until vegetables are just tender, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Add vegetable mixture, 1/4 cup pasta cooking liquid, dark green parts of green onions, 1/2 cup Parmesan, cream, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon peel, half of the parsley and half of the basil to the pasta. Toss, adding more cooking liquid by tablespoonfuls if needed. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Transfer to a large bowl. Sprinkle pancetta, remaining parsley and remaining basil over. Serve, passing additional Parmesan cheese.

ASPARAGUS, FINGERLING POTATO, AND GOAT CHEESE PIZZA

Steps:

• Place potatoes in small saucepan. Add enough water to cover by 1 inch. Sprinkle with salt. Bring to boil and cook until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Drain. Cool. Cut potatoes into thin slices.
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Sprinkle rimless baking sheet with cornmeal. Roll and stretch pizza dough to 16x11-inch oval. Transfer to baking sheet. Mix 1 tablespoon olive oil and garlic in small bowl. Brush garlic oil over dough. Sprinkle 3/4 of green onions over, then mozzarella, leaving 1/2-inch plain border. Top with potato slices and goat cheese. Toss asparagus and 1 tablespoon oil in medium bowl. Scatter asparagus over pizza. Sprinkle with Parmesan, then lightly with salt and generously with pepper.
• Bake pizza until crust is browned and asparagus is tender, about 18 minutes. Transfer to cutting board. Sprinkle with remaining green onions. Cut into pieces.

PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS, PANCETTA AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°.
• Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; add asparagus to pan during last 3 minutes of cooking. Drain. Sprinkle pasta mixture with garlic; return to pan, and toss well.
• Arrange pine nuts in a single layer on a jelly-roll pan. Bake at 400° for 3 minutes or until golden and fragrant, stirring occasionally. Place in a small bowl.
• Increase oven temperature to 475°.
• Arrange pancetta on jelly-roll pan. Bake at 475° for 6 minutes or until crisp.
• Combine lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper, stirring with a whisk. Drizzle over pasta mixture; toss well.